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/P 3 70 

} -‘T'd 

<JMiJ J>outf) 3teafU£jS. 

No. 117. 

Frobisher’s 
First 
Voyage. 

FROM THE “ TRUE DISCOURSE,” BY GEORGE BESTE. 

The colde regions of the worlde are those whiche, tending 
towarde the pole artike and antartike, are withoute the circuit or 
bounds of the seaven climates, which, agreeable to the opinion 
of the olde writers, is founde and sette out in our authore of the 
Sphere , Joannes de Sacrobosco, where he playnely sayeth, that 
without the seaventh climate, which is bounded by a parallel 
passing at fiftie degrees in latitude, all the habitation beyonde 
that to be discommodious and intolerable : but Gemma Phrisius, 
a late writer, finding England and Scotland to be withoute the 
compasse of those climates wherein he knew to be very tem¬ 
perate and good habitation, added thereunto two other climates, 
the uttermost paralell whereof passeth by 56 degrees in latitude, 
and therein comprehendeth over and above the first computa¬ 
tion, England, Scotland, Denmarke, Moscovia, etc., which all 
are rich and mightie kingdomes. 

The old writers, perswaded by bare conjecture, went aboute 
to determine of those places, by comparing them to their own 
complexions, bycause they felt them to be hardly tolerable to 
themselves, and so toke thereby an argument of the whole 
habitable earth, as if a man borne in Morochus, or other part 
of Barbarie, should at the latter end of sommer, upon the sud- 
dayne, eyther naked, or wyth hys thinne vesture, be broughte 
into England, he would judge this region presently not to be 
habitable, bycause he being broughte up in so warme a countrey, 
is not able heere to live, for so sodaine an alteration of the cold 
ayre ; but if the same man hadde come at the beginning of 
sommer, and so afterwarde by little and little by certaine de- 

333 






2 


^o , 

(*■ 

^ \'S 1 <5 o ’ 

grees, had felt and acquainted himselfe with the frost of 
autumne, it would have seemed by degrees to harden him, 
and so to make it far more tollerable, and by use after one 
yeere or two, the ayre woulde seeme to hym more temperate. 
It was compted a greate matter in the olde time, that there was 
a brasse pot broken in sunder with frozen water in Ponthus , 
which after was broughte and shewed in Delphis , in token of a 
miraculous cold region and winter, and therefore consecrated to 
the Temple of Apollo. 

This effect being wroghte in the paralell of 48 degrees in 
latitude, it was presentlye compted a place verye hardlye and 
uneasily to be inhabited for the greate colde. And howe then 
can suche men define uppon other regions very farre without 
that paralell, wh’er they were inhabited or not, seeing that in so 
neare a place they so grossely mistooke the matter, and others 
their followers being contented with the inventions of the olde 
authors, have persisted willingly in the same opinion, with more 
confidence than consideration of the cause, so lightly was that 
opinion received, as touching the unhabitable clime neare and 
under the Poles. 

Therefore I am at this present to prove y l all the land lying 
betweene the laste climate even unto the point directly under 
either Poles, is or maye be inhabited, especially of suche 
creatures as are ingendred and bredde therein. For indeed it 
is to be confessed, that some particular living creature cannot 
live in every particular place or region, especially wyth the 
same joy and felicitie, as it did where it was first bredde, for 
the certane agreement of nature that is betweene the place, 
and the thing bredde in that place, as appeareth by the ele¬ 
phant, which being translated and brought out of the second or 
third climate, though they may live, yet will they never ingender 
or bring forth yong. Also wee see the like in many kinds of 
plants and hearbs: for example, the orange tree, although in 
Naples they bring forth fruit abundantly, in Rome and Florence 
they will beare onlye faire greene leaves, but not any fruite: 
and translated into England, they will hardly beare either flow¬ 
ers, fruite, or leaves, but are the next winter pinched and 
withered with colde: yet it followeth not for this, that England, 
Rome, and Florence should not be habitable. 

In the proving of these colde regions habitable, I shall be 
verye shorte, bicause the same reasons serve for this purpose, 
which were alleaged before in the proving the middle zone to 
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be temperate, especially seeing all heate and colde proceede 
from the sunne, by the meanes eyther of the angle his beames 
doeth make with the horizon, or else by y e long or shorte con¬ 
tinuance of the sun’s presence above ground: so that if the 
sunnes beames do heate perpendicularlye at righte angles, then 
there is one cause of heate, and if the sunne doe also long con¬ 
tinue above the horizon, then the heate thereby is muche en- 
creased by accesse of this other cause, and so groweth to a kind 
of extremitie. And these ii causes, as I said before, doe moste 
concurre under the two tropickes, and therefore there is the 
greatest heate of y e worlde. And likewise, where both these 
causes are most absent, there is greatest want of heate, and en- 
crease of colde (seeing that colde is nothing but the privation 
and absence of heat), and if one cause be wanting and the other 
present the effect will grow indifferent. Therefore this is to be 
understanded, that the nearer anye region is to the equinoctiall 
the higher the sunne doeth rise over their heades at noone, and 
so maketh either righte or neare righte angles, but the sun 
tarryeth with them so much the shorter time, and causeth shorter 
dayes, with longer and colder nights, to restore the domage of 
the daye paste, by reason of the moisture consumed by vapour. 
But in such reasons, over the which the sun riseth lower (as in 
regions extended towardes eyther pole) it maketh there unequall 
angles, but the sunne continueth longer, and maketh longer 
dayes, and causeth so much shorter and warmer nights, as re- 
tayning warme vapoures of the daye paste. For there are found 
by experience sommer nights in Scotland and Gothland very 
hot, when under the equinoctiall they are found very colde. 
This benefit of the sunnes long continuance and encrease 
of the day, doth augment so muche the more in colde regions, 
as they are nearer the poles, and ceaseth not encreasing, until 
it come directly under the point of the pole articke, where the 
sunne continueth above grounde the space of sixe moneths or 
halfe a yeare togither, and so the daye is halfe a yere longe, 
that is the time of y e suns being in the north signes, from the 
first degree of Aries until the last of Virgo, that is all the time 
from our io day of March, untill the 14th of September. The 
sun therefore during the time of these 6 moneths without any 
offence or hinderaunce of the nighte, gyveth his influence upon 
those landes with heate that never ceaseth during that time, 
which maketh to the great increase of sommer, by reason of the 
sunnes continuance. Therefore it followeth, that though the 

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sunne be not there very high over their heads to cause right 
angle beams and to give great heate, yet the sun being there 
sometime almost 24 degrees high, doth caste a convenient and 
meane heate which there continueth without hinderance of the 
night the space of six moneths (as is before saide) during whiche 
time there foloweth to be a convenient moderate and temperate 
heat, or else rather it is to be suspected the heat there to be 
very great, both for continuance and also quia virtus unita 
crescit , the vertue and strength of heat united in one encreaseth. 
If then there be suche a moderate heat under the poles, and the 
same to continue so long time, what shoulde move the olde writ¬ 
ers to saye there cannot be place for habitation. And that the 
certaintie of this temperate heat under both the poles might 
more manifestlye appeare, lette us consider the position and 
qualitie of the sphere, the length of the day, and so to gather 
the heighte of the sunne at all times, and by consequent the 
quantitie of his angle, and so lastely the strength of his heate 

Those landes and regions lying under the pole and having 
the pole for their zenith, muste needes have the equinoctiall 
circle for their horizon, therefore the sunne entring into the 
north signes, and describing every 24 houres a paralell to the 
equinoctiall by the diurnall motion of Primum Mobile, the same 
paralels must needes be wholely above the horizon, and so looke 
how many degrees there are from the fyrst of Aries to the last 
of Virgo, so many whole revolutions there are above theyr 
horizon y 4 dwell under the pole, whiche amounteth to 182, and 
so manye of oure dayes the sunne continueth with them. Dur¬ 
ing whych tyme they have there continuall daye and lighte 
withoute anye hinderaunce of moiste nightes. Yet it is to be 
noted that the sunne being in the fyrst degree of Aries, and 
laste degree of Virgo, maketh his revolution in the very horizon, 
so that in these 24 houres halfe the body of the sunne is above 
the horizon and the other halfe is under this only center, de¬ 
scribing both the horizon and the equinoctiall circle. 

And therefore seeing the greatest declination of the sun is 
almost 24 degrees, it followeth his greatest height in those 
countries to be almost 24 degrees. And so high is the sun at 
noone to us in London about y e 29 of October, being in the 15 
degree of Scorpio, and likewise the 21 of January being in the 
15 of Aquarius. Therefore looke what force the sun at noone 
hath in London the 29th of October, the same force of heate it 
hathe, to them that dwell under the pole, the space almost of 
33 6 


5 


two moneths, during the time of the sommer solstitium, and that 
without intermingling of any colde night: so that if the heate 
of the sunne at noone coulde be well measured in London 
(which is verye harde to do, bycause of the long nights, whiche 
engender greate moysture and colde), then woulde manifestlye 
appeare by expresse numbers the maner of the heate under the 
poles, which certainly must needes be to the inhabitants verye 
commodious and profitable, if it inclyne not to over much heate, 
and if moysture do not want. 

For as in October in England we find temperate aire, and 
have in our gardens hearbes and floures notwithstanding our 
colde nights, how much more shoulde they have y e same good 
ayre, being continual without night. This heate of ours con- 
tinueth but one houre while the sunne is in y e meridian, but 
theirs continueth a long time in one height. This our heate is 
,weake, and by the coolenesse of the night vanisheth; that heate 
is strong, and by continual accesse is still increased and 
strengthened. And thus by a similitude of the equal height 
of the sunne in both places, appeareth the commodious and 
moderate heate of the regions under the poles. 

And surely I can not thinke that the divine providence hath 
made any thing uncommunicable, but to have given such order 
to all things that one way or other the same shoulde be em- 
ploied, and that every thing and place should be tollerable to 
the next. But especiallye all things in this lower world be given 
to man to have dominion and use thereof. Therefore wee 
neede no longer to doubt of the temperate and commodious 
habitation under the poles during the tyme of sommer. 

And al the controversie consisteth in the winter, for then 
the sun leaveth those regions, and is no more seene for the 
space of other sixe months, in the which time al the sunnes 
course is under their horizon for the space of halfe a yeare, and 
then those regions (saye some) muste needs be deformed with 
horible darkenesse. and continuall nyghte, whiche maye be the 
cause that beastes can not seeke theyr foode, and that also the 
cold should then be intollerable. By which double evils al liv¬ 
ing creatures should be constrayned to die, and were not able 
to indure the extremitie and injurie of winter and famine ensu¬ 
ing thereof, but that all things shoulde perish before the sommer 
folowing, when they should bring forth their broode and yong, 
and that for these causes y e said clime about the pole shold be 
desolate and not habitable. To al which objections may be 

337 


6 


answered in this manner: first, that thoughe the sun be absent 
from them those five months, yet it followeth not there should 
be such extreame darkenesse, for as the sunne is departed under 
their horizon, so is it not farre from them. And not so soone 
as the sunne falleth, so sodainely commeth the darke night, but 
the evening doth substitute and prolong the daye a good while 
after by twilight. After which time the residue of y e night re- 
ceiveth light of the moone and starres untill the breake of the 
day, which giveth also a certaine light before the sunnes rising, 
so that by these means the nights are seldom dark, which is 
verified in all parts of the world, but least in the middle zone 
under the equinoctiall, where the twylights are short and the 
nights darker than in any other place, bycause the sun goeth 
under their horizon so deepe, even to their antipodes. Wee see 
in Englande in the sommer nights, when the sun goeth not far 
under the horizon, that by the light of the moone and stars wee 
may travel al night, and if occasion were do some other labour 
also. And there is no man that doubteth whether our cattel 
can see to feede in y e nights, seeing wee are so well certified 
thereof by our experience: and by reason of the sphere, our 
nights should be darker than any time under the poles. 

The astronomers consent that the sun, descending from our 
upper hemisphere at the 18 paralell under the horizon, maketh 
an end of twylight, so that at length the darke night ensueth, 
and that afterward in the morning, the sun approaching againe 
within as many paralels, doth drive away y e night by accesse of 
y e twylight. Againe, by the position of the sphere under y e 
pole, the horizon and the equinoctiall are al one. These revolu¬ 
tions therefore that are paralell to the equinoctiall are also 
paralel to the horizon, so that the sun descending under y e 
horizon, and there describing certain paralels not farre distant, 
doeth not bringe darke nights to those regions until it come to 
the paralels distant 18 degrees from y e equinoctiall, that is, 
about y e 21 degree of Scorpio, which wil be about y e 4 day of 
our November and after the winter solstitium , y e sun retourning 
backe againe to y e 9 degree of Aquarius, whiche wil be aboute 
y e 19 of January, during which time only, that is from y e 4 of 
November untill the xix day of January, which is about six 
weeks space, those regions do want y e commoditie of twylights. 
Therefore, during y e time of these said six moneths of darknesse 
under y e poles, y e night is destitute of y e benefit of y e sun, and 
y e said twilights, only for y e space of six weeks or thereabout, 
338 


7 


And yet neither this time of six weeks is without remedy fro 
heaven. For y e moone with hir encreased light hathe accesse 
at that time and illuminateth the moneths, lacking light every 
one of themselves severally halfe the course of y e moneth, by 
whose benefite it commeth to passe y rt y e night named extreame 
dark possesseth those regions no longer than one moneth, 
neither that continually or al at one time, but this also di¬ 
vided into two sorts of shorter nights, of y e which either of 
them endureth for y e space of 15 dayes, and are illuminate of y e 
moone accordingly. And this reason is gathered out of the 
sphere, whereby we may testifie y* the sommers are war me and 
fruitful, and the winters nights under the pole are tollerable to 
living creatures. And if it be so that the winter and time of 
darknes there be very cold, yet hath not nature left them un¬ 
provided therefore. For there y e beasts are covered with haire 
so muche the thicker in how much the vehemencie of cold is 
greater, by reason whereof the best and richest furres are 
broughte out of the coldest regions. Also the foules of these 
cold countries have thicker skins, thicker feathers, and more 
stored of down than in other hot places. Our Englishmen that 
travel to S. Nicholas, and go a fishing to Wardhouse, enter far 
within the circle artike, and so are in the frozen zone; and yet 
there, as well as in Iseland, and all along those northern seas, 
they finde the greatest store of the greatest fishes that are, as 
whales, etc., and also abundance of meane fishes, as herings, 
coddes, haddockes, brettes, etc., whiche argueth, that the sea as 
well as the land, maye bee and is well frequented and inhabited 
in the colde countries. 

But some, perhaps, will marvel there should be such temper¬ 
ate places in y e regions aboute y e poles, when at under degrees 
in latitude, our Captaine Frobisher and his companye were 
troubled wyth so manye and so great mountaines of fleeting ise, 
with'so great stormes of colde, with such continuall snow on 
toppes of mountaines, and with such barren soyle, there being 
neither woodde or trees, but lowe shrubbes, and suche like. 
To al which objections may be answered thus: — First, those 
infinite ilandes of ise were engendered and congealed in time 
of winter, and now by the gret heate of sommer were thawed, 
and then by ebbes, floudes, windes, and currants, were driven 
to and fro, and troubled the fleete, so that this is an argument 
to prove the heat in sommer there to be great, that was able to 
thaw so monstrous mountaines of ise. As for continuall snow on 

339 


8 




tops of mountains, it is ther no otherwise than is in the hottest 
parte of the middle zone, where also lyeth great snowe al the 
sommer long uppon toppes of mountaines, bycause there is not 
sufficient space for the sunnes reflection wherby the snowe 
should be molten. Touching the colde stormy windes, and the 
barrennesse of the country, it is there, as it is in Cornwall and 
Devonshire in England, which parts, thoughe we know to be 
fruitful and fertile, yet on the north side therof al alongst the 
coast within seaven or eight myles off the sea, there can neither 
hedge nor tree grow, althoughe they be diligently by art hus¬ 
banded and seene unto; and the cause therof are the northerne 
driving windes, whiche, coming from the sea, are so bitter and 
sharp, that they kill al y e yong and tender plants, and suffer 
scarce anything to grow, and so is it in y e ilands of Meta Incog¬ 
nita, which are subject most to east and northerne winds, which 
y e last were choked up y e passage so with ise, that the fleet 
could hardly recover their port; yet, notwithstanding all the ob¬ 
jections that may be, the countrey is habitable, for there are 
men, women, children, and sundrie kind of beastes in great 
plentie, as beares, dere, hares, foxes, and dogges: all kind of 
flying fowles, as duckes, seamews, wilmots, partriches, larkes, 
crowes, hawkes, and such like, as in the thirde booke you shall 
understand more at large. Then it appeareth, that not only the 
middle zone, but also the zones about the poles are habitable, 
which thing being well considered, and familiarly knowen to 
our generall Captaine Frobisher, as well for that he is 
thoroughly furnished of the knowledge of the sphere, and all 
other skilles apperteyning to the art of navigation, as also for 
the confirmation he hath of the same by many yeares experi¬ 
ence, both by sea and land, and being persuaded of a new and 
neerer passage to Cataya, than by Capo d’buona Speranza, 
which the Portugalles yeerly use. He began first with himselfe 
to devise, and then with his friendes to conferre, and layde a 
playne platte unto them, that that voyage was not onely possible 
by the north-weast, but also, as he coulde prove, easie to bee 
performed. And further, he determined and resolved wyth 
himselfe, to go make full proofe thereof, and to accomplishe, or 
bring true certificate of the truth, or else never to retourne 
againe, knowing this to be the onely thing of the worlde that 
was left yet undone, whereby a notable mind mighte be made 
famous and fortunate. But although his will were great to 
performe this notable voyage, whereof hee had conceyved in 
340 




9 

his mind a great hope, by sundry sure reasons and secret in¬ 
telligence, whiche heere, for sundry causes, I leave untouched — 
yet he wanted altogither meanes and abilitie to set forward and 
performe the same. Long tyme he conferred with his private 
friendes of these secretes, and made also manye offers for the 
performing of the same in effect unto sundry merchants of our 
countrey, above fifteen yeares before he attempted the same, as 
by good witnesse shall well appeare (albeit some evill willers 
whiche challenge to themselves the frutes of other mens laboures, 
have greately injured him in the reportes of the same, saying 
that they have bin the first authors of that action, and that they 
have learned him the way, which themselves, as yet, have never 
gone). But perceyving that hardly he was hearkened unto of 
the merchants, whiche never regarde vertue withoute sure, cer- 
tayne, and present gaynes, hee repayred to the courte (from 
whence, as from the fountaine of oure commonwealth, all good 
causes have theyr chiefe encrease and mayntenance), and there 
layde open to manye great estates and learned men, the plot 
and summe of hys devise. And amongst maney honourable 
myndes whyche favoured hys honest and commendable enter¬ 
prise, he was specially bounde and beholdyng to the ryghte 
honourable Ambrose Dudley, Earle of Warwicke, whose favour¬ 
able mynde and good disposition, hath alwayes bin readye to 
countenance and advance all honest actions wyth the authors 
and executors of the same; and so by meanes of my lorde hys 
honourable countenance, hee recyved some comforte of hys 
cause, and by little and little, with no small expense and payne, 
brought hys cause to some perfection, and hadde drawen to- 
gither so many adventurers and suche summes of money as 
myghte well defray a reasonable charge, to furnishe hymselfe to 
sea withall. 

He prepared two small barkes of twentie and fyve and twentie 
tunne a peece, wherein hee intended to accomplish his pre¬ 
tended voyage. Wherefore, beeying furnished wyth the for- 
sayde two barkes and one small pinnesse of tenne tunne 
burthen, havyng therein victuals and other necessaries for 
twelve monethes provision, he departed uppon the sayde voy¬ 
age from Blackewall the fiftenth of June, Anno Domini 1576. 

One of the barkes wherein he wente, was named the Gabrieli 
and the other the Michaell, and sayling north-weast from Eng- 
lande uppon the firste of July, at length he hadde sighte of a 
highe and ragged lande, whiche he judged Freeselande (whereof 

34i 


o 


some authours have made mention), but durst not approche the 
same by reason of the greate store of ise that lay alongst the 
coast, and the greate mistes that troubled them not a little. 

Not farre from thence hee lost companye of his small pin- 
nesse, whiche, by meanes of the greate storme, he supposed to 
bee swallowed uppe of the sea, wherein he lost onely foure 
men. 

Also the other barke named the Michaell mistrusting the 
matter, conveyed themselves privili^ away from him, and re- 
tourned home wyth greate reporte that he was cast awaye. 

The worthye captayne, notwithstanding these discomfortes, 
although his mast was sprung, and his toppe mast blowen over- 
boorde wyth extreame foule weather, continued hys course to- 
wardes the north-weast, knowing that the sea at length must 
needes have an endyng, and that some lande shoulde have a 
beginning that way; and determined, therefore, at the least, to 
bryng true proofe what lande and sea the same myght bee, so 
farre to the northweastwardes, beyonde anye man that hathe 
heeretofore discovered. And the twentieth of July hee hadde 
sighte of a highe lande, whyche hee called Queene Eliza¬ 
beth’s Forlande, after hyr Majesties name, and sayling more 
northerlie alongst the coast he descried another forlande with a 
greate gutte, bay, or passage, deviding as it were, two mayne- 
lands or continents asunder. There he met with store of ex¬ 
ceeding great ise al this coast along, and coveting still to con¬ 
tinue his course to the northwardes, was alwayes by contrarie 
winde deteyned overthwarte these straytes, and could not get 
beyonde. Within few days after he perceyved the ise to be 
well consumed and gone, eyther there engulfed in by some 
swifte currants or in draftes caried more to the southwardes of 
the same straytes, or else conveyed some other way; wherefore 
he determined to make profe of this place to see how far that 
gutte had continuance, and whether he mighte carrie himselfe 
through the same into some open sea on the backe syde, 
whereof he conceyved no small hope, and so entred the same 
the one-and-twentieth of July, and passed above fyftie leagues 
therein, as hee reported, having upon eyther hande a greate 
mayne or continent; and that land uppon hys right hande as 
hee sayled westward, he judged to be the continente of Asia, 
and there to bee devided from the firme of America, whiche 
lyeth uppon the lefte hande over against the same. 

This place he named after his name Frobisher’s Streytes, 
342 


lyke as Magellanus at the south-weast ende of the worlde hav¬ 
ing discovered the passage to the South Sea (where America is 
devided from the continente of that lande whiche lyeth under the 
south pole), and called the same straites Magellanes streightes. 
After he hadde passed 60 leagues into this foresayde strayte 
hee wente ashore, and founde signe where fire had bin made. 

He saw mightie deere y 1 seemed to be mankind, which ranne 
at him, and hardly he escaped with his life in a narrow way, 
where he was fame to use defence and policie to save his life. 

In this place he saw and perceyved sundry tokens of the 
peoples resorting thither, and being ashore upon the toppe of a 
hill, he perceived a number of small things fleeting in the sea 
afarre off, whyche hee supposed to be porposes or seales, or 
some kinde of strange fishe; but coming nearer he discovered 
them to be men in small boates made of leather. And before 
he could descende downe from the hyll certain of those people 
had almost cut off his boate from him, having stollen secretly 
behinde the rocks for that purpose, where he speedily hasted to 
his boate and bente himselfe to his holberte, and narrowly 
escaped the daunger and saved his bote. Afterwards he had 
sundry conferences with them, and they came aborde his ship, 
and brought him salmon and raw fleshe and fishe, and greedily 
devoured the same before our mens faces. And to shewe their 
agilitie, they tryed many maisteries upon the ropes of the ship 
after our mariners fashion, and appeared to be very strong of 
theyr armes and nimble of their bodies. They exchaunged 
coates of seale and beares skinnes, and suche like, with oure 
men, and received belles, looking-glasses, and other toyes in 
recompence thereof againe. After great curtesie and many 
meetings, our mariners, contrarie to theyr captaines dyrection, 
began more easily to trust them, and five of oure men going 
ashoare, were by them intercepted with theyr boate, and were 
never since hearde of to this daye againe. So that the captaine 
being destitute of boate, barke, and al company, had scarcely 
sufficient number to conduct back his bark againe. He coulde 
nowe neither convey himselfe ashore to rescue his men (if he 
had bin able), for want of a boate; and again, the subtile trayt- 
ours were so warie as they would after that never come within 
our mens danger. The captaine, notwithstanding, desirous to 
bring some token from thence of his being there, was greatly 
discontented that he had not before apprehended some of them. 
And therefore to deceive the deceivers he wrought a prettie 

343 


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pollicie, for knowing well how they greatly delighted in our 
toyes, and specially in belles, he rang a pretie lowbel, making 
wise that he would give him the same that would come and 
fetch it. And bycause they would not come within his 
daunger for feare, he flung one bell unto them, which of 
purpose he threw short that it might fal into the sea and be 
lost. And to make them more greedie of the matter he rang a 
lowder bell, so that in the ende one of them came neare the ship 
side to receive the bell, which, when he thought to take at the 
captaine’s hand he was thereby taken himself ; for the captain 
being redily provided, let the bel fal and cought the man fast, 
and plucked him with maine force boate and al into his bark 
out of the sea. Wherupon, when he founde himself in captiv- 
itie, for very choller and disdain, he bit his tong in twayne 
within his mouth : notwithstanding, he died not therof, but 
lived untill he came in Englande, and then he died of colde 
which he had taken at sea. 

Nowe with this newe pray (whiche was a sufficient witnesse 
of the captaines farre and tedious travell towards the unknowne 
partes of the worlde, as did well appeare by this strange Infidel, 
whose like was never seen, red, nor harde of before, and whose 
language was neyther knowne nor understoode of anye) the 
saide Captaine Frobisher retourned homeward, and arrived in 
England in August [?] folowing, an. 1576, where he was highly 
commended of all men for his great and notable attempt, but 
specially famous for the great hope he brought of the passage 
to Cataya, which he doubted nothing at all to find and passe 
through in those parts, as he reporteth. 

And it is especially to be remembred at the .first arrivall in 
those partes, there laye so great store of ise all the coaste along 
so thicke togither, that hardely his boate coulde passe unto the 
shoare. At lengthe, after diverse attempts, he commaunded 
his company if by anye possible meanes they could get ashore, 
to bring him whatsoever thing they could first find, whether it 
were living or dead, stocke or stone, in token of Christian pos¬ 
session, which thereby he toke in behalfe of the Queenes most 
excellent Majestie, thinking that therby he might justify the 
having and enjoying of y e same things that grew in these un¬ 
knowne partes. 

Some of his companye broughte floures, some greene grasse, 
and one brought a peece of a blacke stone, much lyke to a sea- 
cole in coloure, whiche by the waight seemed to be some kinde 
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of mettall or mynerall. This was a thing of no accompt in the 
judgement of the captain at the first sight. And yet for novelty 
it was kept, in respect of the place from whence it came. 

After his arrival in London, being demanded of sundrie his 
friendes what thing he had brought them home of that coun¬ 
try, he had nothing left to present them withall but a peece of 
this black stone. And it fortuned a gentlewoman, one of y e 
adventurers wives, to have a peece thereof, which by chance 
she threw and burned in the fire, so long, that at the length 
being taken forth and quenched in a little vinegre, it glistered 
with a bright Marquesset of golde. Whereupon the matter be¬ 
ing called in some question, it was brought to certain goldfind- 
ers in London to make assay therof, who indeed found it to 
hold gold, and that very ritchly for the quantity. Afterwards, 
the same goldfinders promised great matters thereof if there 
were anye store to be found, and offred themselves to adventure 
for the serching of those partes from whence the same was 
brought. Some, that had great hope of the matter, sought 
secretly to have a lease at hir Majesties hands of those places, 
whereby to enjoy the masse of so great a publike profit unto 
their owne private gaines. 

In conclusion, the hope of the same golde ore to be founde, 
kindled a greater opinion in the heartes of many to advaunce 
the voyage againe. Whereupon preparation was made for a 
newe voyage against the yeare following, and the captaine more 
specially directed by commission for the searching more of this 
golde ore than for the searching any further of the passage. 
And being wel accompanied with diverse resolute and forward 
gentlemen, hir Majestie then lying at the right honourable the 
Lord of Warwicks house in Essex, came to take theyr leaves, 
and kissing hir highnesse hands, with gracious countenance and 
comfortable words departed towardes their charge. 


EXTRACT FROM BESTE’S DEDICATION TO SIR CHRISTOPHER 
HATTON. 

By this discourse, it may please your Honour to behold the greate 
industrie of oure present age, and the invincible mindes of our Eng- 
lishe nation, who have never lefte anye worthy thing unattempted, 
nor anye parte almoste of the whole world unsearched, whome lately, 
neyther stormes of seas by long and tedious voyages, danger of darke 
fogs and hidden rockes in unknown coastes, congealed and frozen 

345 



14 


seas, with mountains of fleeting ise, nor yet present dayly before 
their face, coulde anve white dismay, or cause to desiste from in¬ 
tended enterprises ; but rather preferring an honourable death before 
a shameful retourne, have (notwithstanding the former dangers,) after 
many perillous repulses, recovered their desired port. So that, if 
now the passage to Cataya thereby be made open unto ns, (which 
only matter hytherto hath occupied the finest heades of the world, 
and promiseth us a more riches by a nearer way than eyther Spaine 
or Portugale possesseth) where of the hope (by the good industrie and 
great attemptes of these men is greatly augmented) or if the golde 
ore in these new discoveries founde out, doe in goodnesse as in 
greate plenty aunswere expectation, and the successe do followe as 
good, as the proofe thereof hitherto made, is great, we may truely 
infer, that the Englishman in these our dayes, in his notable discov¬ 
eries, to the Spaniard and Portingale is nothing inferior : and for his 
hard adventures, and valiant resolutions, greatly superior. For what 
hath the Spaniarde or Portingale done by the southeast and south- 
weast, that the Englishman by the northeast and northweast hath not 
countervailed the same ? 

And albeit I confesse that the Englishe have not hytherto had so ful 
successe of profit and commoditie of pleasaunt place (considering that the 
former nations have happily chanced to travel by more temperate clymates, 
where they had not onlye good meates and drinkes, but all other things 
necessarie for the use of man) all whiche things, the English, travelling by 
more intemperate places, and as it were with mayne force, making waye 
through seas of ise, have wanted, which notwithstanding argueth a more 
resolution: for Difficiliorapulchriora, that is, the adventure the more hard 
the more honorable: yet concerning the perfecter knowledge of the world, 
and geographicall description, (wherein the present age and posteritie also, 
by a more universal understanding is much furthered, as appeareth by my 
universall mappe with pricked boundes here annexed) herein, the English¬ 
man deserveth chiefe honour above any other. For neyther Spaniard nor 
Portugale, nor anye other besides the English, have bin found, by so great 
dangers of ise, so neare the Pole, to adventure any discoverie, whereby the 
obscure and unknowen partes of the world (which otherwise had laine hid) 
have bin made knowen unto us. 

So that it may appeare, that by our Englishmen’s industries, and these 
late voyages, the world is grown to a more fulnesse and perfection; many 
unknowen lands and ilands, (not so much as thought upon before) made 
knowen unto us: Christ’s namespred: the Gospell preached; infidels like 
to be converted to Christiantie, in places where before the name of God had 
not once bin hearde of: shipping and seafaring men, have bin employed: 
navigation and the navie (which is the chief strength of our realm) main- 
tayned: and gentlemen in the sea service, for the better service of their 
country, wel experienced. A 1 whiche things are (no doubt) of so gret im¬ 
portance, as being wel wayed, may seeme to countervayle the adventures 
charges: although the passage to Cataya were not four/d out, neither yet 
the golde ore prove good, wher of both the hope is good and gret. But 
notwithstanding all these, even in this (if no otherwise) hyr most excellent 
Majestie hath reaped no small profit, that she may now stand assured, to 
have many more tried, able and sufficient men against time of need, that 
346 


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are (which without vaunt may be spoken) of valour gret, for any great 
adventure, and of governement good for any good place of service. For 
this may truly be spoken of these men, that there hath not bin seene in 
any nation, being so many in number, and so far from home, more civill 
order, better governement, or agreement. For even from the beginning of 
the service hitherto, there hath neither passed mutinie, quarrel, or notori¬ 
ous fact, either to the slaunder of the men, or daunger of the voyage, al¬ 
though the gentlemen, souldiers, and marriners (whiche seldome can agree) 
were by companies matched togither. 

But I may perchance (right Honourable) seeme to discourse somewhat 
too largely, especially in a cause that (as a partie) somewhat concerneth my 
selfe; which I doe, not for that I doubt of your honorable opinion already 
conceived of the men, but for that I know, the ignorant multitude is rather 
ready to slander, than to give good encouragement by due commendation 
to good causes, who, respecting nothinge but a present gaine, and being 
more than needefully suspitious of the matter, do therewithall condemne 
the men, and that without any further respect, either of their honest in¬ 
tents, either of their wel performing the matter they dyd undertake (which 
according to their direction, was specially to bring home ore) either else of 
their painful travel (which for their Prince, and the publicke profite of 
their countries cause they have sustained). 

But by the way, it is not unknown to the world, that this our native 
country of England in al ages hath bred up (and specially at this present 
aboundeth with) many forward and valiant minds, fit to take in hand any 
notable enterprise; wherby appeareth, that if the Englishman had bin in 
times paste as fortunate and foreseeing to accept occasion offered, as he 
hath bin always forwarde in executing anye cause once taken in hand, he 
had bin worthily preferred before all nations of the worlde, and the Weast 
Indies had now bin in the possession of the Englishe. 

For Columbus , the firste Discoverer of the Weast Indies , made firste 
offer thereof, with his service, to King Henry the seaventh, then Kyng of 
Englande, and was not accepted: Whereuppon, for want of entertainement 
here, hee was forced to go into Spaine y and offered there (as before) the 
same to Ferdinando , Kyng of Castyle, who presently acceptyng the occa¬ 
sion, did first himselfe, and now his successors, enjoy the benefite thereof. 

Also Sebastian Cabota y being an Englishman, and born in Bristowe , after 
he had discovered sundrie parts of new found lande, and attempted the 
passage to Cataya by the Northwest, for the King of England, for lacke of 
entertainment here, (notwithstanding his good desert) was forced to seeke 
to the Kinge of Spaine, to whose use hee discovered all that tract of 
Brazil , and about the famous river Rio de la Plata , and for the same, and 
other good services there, was afterwards renowmed, by title of Piloto Mag- 
giore, that is Graunde Pylote, and constituted chiefe officer of the Contrac- 
tation house of Sivilla: in whiche house are handled all matters concern¬ 
ing the Weast Indies, and the revenues thereof; and further that no Pylot 
shoulde be admitted for any discoverie but by his direction. 

But there hath bin two speciall causes in former age, that have greatly 
hindered the English nation in their attempts. The one hath bin, lacke of 
liberalitie in the nobilitie, and the other want of skill in the cosmographie, 
and the arte of navigation. Whiche kinde of knowledge is very necessary 
for all oure noblemen, for that wee being danders, our chiefest strength 
consisteth by sea. But these twoo causes are nowe in this present age 

347 


16 


(God be thanked) very well reformed; for not only hir majestie now, but 
all the nobilitie also, having perfect knowledge in Cosmographie, doe not 
only with good wordes countenance the forward minds of men, but also 
with their purses do liberally and bountifully contribute unto the same, 
whereby it cometh to passe, that navigation, whiche in the time of King 
Henry the 7 th was very rawe, and toke (as it were) but beginning (and 
ever since hath had by little and little continuall increase) is now in hir 
Majestie’s raign growen to his highest perfection. 


Martin Frobisher was born in Yorkshire about 1533. He was educated in London, went 
on a voyage to Guinea in 1554, and was engaged in various expeditions, from that time 0.1. 
His public services brought him under the notice of the queen and of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, 
who in 1566 wrote his famous “ Discourse to prove a Passage to the North-west,” published 
ten years later. This discourse, while still in manuscript, was the incitement to the first ex¬ 
pedition commanded by Frobisher for the discovery of a North-west passage. The chief 
promoter of the expedition was Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick. Frobisher sailed from 
the Thames with two small barques and a pinnace June 7, 1576, and sighted the southern 
point of Greenland July n. He sailed into Frobisher’s Bay ‘‘above fifty leagues,” suppos¬ 
ing the land on his right to be Asia and that on the left America. Returning, he reached 
London in October. 

A piece of black pvrite brought home by one of the sailors was pronounced to contain 
gold; and on his second voyage, the next year, Frobisher was‘‘more specially directed by 
commission for the searching more of this gold ore than for the searching any further discov¬ 
ery' of the passage.” Two hundred tons of ore were brought home ; but it was pronounced 
‘‘poor in respect of that brought last year, and that which we know may be brought next 
year.” In May, 1578, Frobisher sailed a third time, with a fleet of fifteen vessels. He 
landed in the south of Greenland, which he named West England. After losing himself in 
the “ Mistaken Streight” (/.*., Hudson’s), and after several weeks of farther explorations, he 
loaded the soundest vessels with mineral that turned out to be worthless, and returned to 
England in the autumn. 

In 1581 a fourth voyage to Cathay by the north-west was projected, and the command 
was offered Frobisher; but he relinquished it. He went with Drake to the West Indies as 
vice-admiral in 1585; and he commanded the “Triumph” in the great Armada fight. He 
was knighted at sea by the lord high admiral. He served in 1590 with Sir John Hawkins; 
and in 1592 he was in the sendee of Sir Walter Raleigh. In 1593 he paid his last visit to 
his Yorkshire home, where he became a jusuce of the peace for the West Riding. In the 
fight at Crozon, near Brest, in 1594, he was wounded; and unskilful surgery led to his death. 
He died soon after reaching Plymouth, where his entrails were buried in the church of St. 
Andrew, while his other remains were interred in St. Giles's, Cripplegate, London. 

There is no thorough, critical life of Frobisher, like Corbeett’s work on Drake. There is 
a brief biography by Jones ; and there are good notices in the various works on the Eliza¬ 
bethan Seamen, by Fox Bourne, Froude, Payne, and others. The admirable article in the 
“ Dictionary’ of National Biography” is b\ r C. H. Coote. Frobisher’s work is also well out¬ 
lined by Charles C. Smith in the chapter on “ Explorations to the North-west” in the 
“Narrative and Critical History of America,” vol. iii.; and the bibliographical notes are 
good. 

George Beste’s“True Discourse of the Late Voyages of Discoverie for Finding of a 
Passage to Cathaya, by the North-weast, under the conduct of Martin Frobisher, General” 
(London, 1578), is the original authority for Frobisher’s three voyages. Beste accompanied 
Frobisher on the second and third voyages. Beste's work was reprinted by Hakluyt; and 
a fine edition, edited by Collinson, was published by the Hakluyt Society in 1867. This is 
used for the present leaflet. About one-third of the part devoted to the first voyage is here 
given, the earlier pages being occupied by a general account of the world at that period. 


PUBLISHED BY 

THE DIRECTORS OF THE OLD SOUTH WORK, 

Old South Meeting-house, Boston, Mass. 

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